As Sacramento’s only big-league team, the Kings are a point of civic pride. There’s genuine excitement about the upcoming season; the young team sold out its first summer league game at Golden 1 Center, a win Monday night over the L.A. Lakers.

But soon, the Kings and Sacramento will be an afterthought on the NBA stage, overshadowed yet again by their California rivals.

First, megastar LeBron James announced Sunday night he’s taking his talents to the team that Kings fans love to hate – the Lakers.

In any case, this will only heighten the long-running drama as King James seeks to lift the Lakers back into the playoffs for the first time since 2013, even as he builds his off-court brand in Tinseltown. His kryptonite – Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and the rest of the Warriors – will try to win a fourth NBA title in five years, removing any doubt they are a dynasty.

Meanwhile, the Kings will be lucky to get on national TV as they strive for relevance – and fans will likely suffer through another mediocre season, even with the addition of some promising young players.

Let’s face it: Being an NBA fan in Sacramento is going to be bleak.

All we can do is watch from the sidelines – now with the added attraction of “Boogie” Cousins, the immensely gifted but petulant star who was the Kings’ most polarizing player in recent memory.

He made three NBA All-Star teams in six seasons as a King. He was also active in the community, working with youth and holding basketball camps. Earlier this year, he paid for funeral expenses for the family of Stephon Clark, shot by police.

By signing a relatively paltry $5.3 million deal with the Warriors, Cousins may believe he’s found a comfortable landing spot as he recuperates from his injury and proves himself before cashing in on free agency next year.